Rethink your approach for implementing SOA initiative and it will have higher chance of success
by Murteza Salemi
The fundamental rethink approach required for implementing SOA initiative in an enterprise is that SOA program should be driven by business (business driven SOA) and not technology or vendor products. Furthermore, the initiative must target specific goals and offer ways of objectives measurement.
By ensuring that the there is a tight link between business and IT, with resources that understand SOA principles and can collaborate as part of a joint program, you minimize the risks of deviation from target set for the initiative.
Identify key stakeholders and communicate the business benefits gained by running SOA initiative, making sure to be clear and specific about each goal achieved by SOA and how it can be measured. Furthermore help these stakeholders to understand the value gained by a project using a Services Model’ as the paradigm of the future, without resorting to discussing vendor products and technology platforms.
Once the to-be state of the business processes are identified and communicated across the enterprise and tied to the business benefits of that enterprise, SOA initiative will have solid ground to start its detail work.
Be prepared and make preparations for a multi-year change journey - SOA is not a tactical fix, or integration solution it is the opportunity for successful business change.
